Celtic Cross in Worcester is Unveiled on September 18, 1977

Worcester Celtic Cross, photo courtesy of Devin Quinlin

On Sunday, September 18, 1977, the Irish community of Worcester and Central Massachusetts unveiled a 15 foot Celtic Cross at City Hall, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish settlement in Worcester, which took place in 1826.

A  series of events took place the weekend of September 16-18, starting with a Memorial Ball on Friday night at the Sheraton Lincoln Inn, featuring the Paddy Noonan Irish Dance Band of New York.

On Saturday, a Memorial Mass was held at St. John’s Church on Temple Street, with principal celebrant Bernard J. Flanagan, Bishop of Worcester, and Reverend Edward T. Connors.  Music was provided by the Blessed Sacrament Church Choir and the Worcester State College Community Orchestra. 

At the dedication ceremony on Sunday, an Irish Dance exhibition started the proceedings with the Jug of Punch folk group, then an invocation by Reverend Thomas J. McKeon of Aldersgate Methodist Church.  Welcoming remarks were made by Worcester Mayor Thomas J.Early and US Congressman Joseph D. Early, and Irish Ambassador to the U.S. John G. Molloy  brought greetings from Ireland.  

The Celtic Cross itself measured 4′ 6″ x 3′ 10″ x 15′ high, and was made by the Milton Monument Company in Randolph, MA.  Detail design was made by Joseph Calgagni of the Barre Granite Corporation in Barre, VT. 

According to the Smithsonian Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, the Celtic Cross depicted “scenes of Ireland and Irish symbols. On the upper front of the cross is a shamrock surrounded by four crests, one for each of the four provinces of Ireland. Down the front vertical part of the cross are carvings of: a pastoral scene depicting the Tower of Ardmore in County Waterford and a wolfhound; St. Bridget’s Cross in rush; a sailing ship; the Claddagh Ring; a scene of men digging Blackstone canal; an endless knot; crossed American and Irish flags; an eagle perched on a arrows and an olive branch.

“On the upper back of the cross is a shamrock surrounded by four crests, one for each of the four provinces of Ireland. Down the back vertical part of the cross are: a pastoral scene with thatched roof cottages; three small shields (AOH, tara brooch, KOC); Christ’s Church on Temple Street; a motif of tools (pick, shovel, mallet, trowel, saw, chisel) and a section of railroad track; left: county names in a continuous ribbon and a map of Ireland; right: county names and an 1829 map of Worcester noting the Canal Basio, Scalpintown, the Meadows, Dungarvan Hill, and Christ’s Church.”

The principle speaker of the day was Professor Vincent E. Powers of Worcester State College, who gave a summary of the Irish settling in Worcester as early as 1718, when a group of Ulster Scots landed in Boston and were sent beyond the pale by skittish Puritans who were suspicious of the Irish.

Blackstone Canal Builders, statue by Robert Shure, Skylight Studios, Inc

On July 4, 1826, the first wave of Irish immigrants came here, under the employ of Tobias Boland, to build the Blackstone Canal.  Many of them had just completed work on the Eire Canal and were expert builders and laborers.  The Blackstone Canal was completed in 1828.

“This memorial is meant to be for all those who came to our city from Ireland, regardless of their ethnic background, religious beliefs, district or province of origin, socio-economic status, or even whether they were literate or skilled or not.  In a sense, all the people of Worcester are part of this saga of the people from Ireland, for by their coming and subsequent actions, these ethnic pioneers have altered and shaped our society.  This is a most human saga – indeed, one to be memorialized,” Powers said in closing. 

Read more stories on the Irish community in Worcester & Central Massachusetts and plans to create an Irish Heritage Trail reported in the Worcester Telegram.

Research + Text, Michael Quinlin